The Wei River originates from the Niaoshu Tongxue Mountain in Longxi, flows through Liangzhou and Yongzhou, and finally merges into the Yellow River. It is one of the most important rivers in the northwest and an important part of the Guanzhong Plain.
The fertile and flat land on both sides of the river nourished countless people in Yongliang. Major cities were built along the river, and the official roads between the cities were also built along the river.
Xia Houmao led his infantry and cavalry in a long queue of several miles, slowly advancing towards Ji County in the west.
Although he had an absolute advantage in terms of military strength, Xiahou Mao was very cautious when facing the famous Zhang Fei. With the help of water transport, he still ordered the army to march thirty miles a day and maintained a relatively slow marching speed.
After leaving Shanggui, Xia Houmao's army was less than five miles away from Wangyuan County in the afternoon of the second day.
Xia Houmao sent a scout to Wangyuan to report the news and ordered Wangyuan guard Zhao Yu to prepare food and labor for the army.
"More than half of our march, we haven't seen Zhang Fei's horse. It seems that this general is overly concerned. Of course, he is also influenced by Liang Qian. Before leaving, this guy repeatedly reminded him that Zhang Fei is good at sneak attacks. Hehe "It's ridiculous to think about it. How dare you provoke thousands of cavalry? That's just because the Tianshui defenders are incompetent." Xia Houmao sighed proudly to the left and right.
Chief Secretary Han Shao analyzed: "The main reason is that the Tianshui garrison is small. The number of soldiers and horses in a single city may not be as many as Zhang Fei's. They cannot form a joint force and are defeated individually. This is pitiful..."
Xia Houmao nodded, "I remember my father once said that when fighting, the most important thing is not to divide your troops. Use an overwhelming number of troops to crush them. All plots and tricks will be useless."
"No wonder the prince-in-law is cautious in using his troops. It turns out that he has learned the true story of the general, and the general admires him." Han Shao quickly praised.
Xia Houmao frowned and held his whip and ordered: "We can increase the marching speed tomorrow. I can't help but have a decisive battle with Zhang Fei. I want that black guy to become a stepping stone for me."
"The general will send orders to each camp at night. If Zhang Fei can be captured and killed here, the prince-in-law's reputation may be greater than that of the general." Han Shao agreed with a smile.
"Uh... That makes sense, hahaha..." Xia Houmao listened very much.
The army continued to march westward for three miles, but the scouts sent out did not return, and no one from Wangyuan came to meet them.
Looking at the looming city not far away, Xia Houmao frowned again and murmured: "What's going on? The scouts sent out are like stones thrown into the water. Could it be that Zhao Yu and Liang Is Qian like that? He was so frightened by Zhang Fei that he dared not go out to greet him?"
"Uh... maybe, I don't know what Zhang Fei has been doing in the past few months, which scared the guards of all the cities in Tianshui..." Han Shao guessed.
"Huh, let's wait until this general arrives at Wangyuan and see how Zhao Yu explains it." Xia Houmao's eyes were gloomy.
Half an hour later, Xia Houmao had arrived outside the east gate of Wangyuan. Although the intensity of today's march was not high, the tension of walking on the border was filled with the laziness of reaching the finish line.
The soldiers were all waiting for Zhao Yu to come and work for the army. Not only could everyone enjoy wine and meat, but they were also satisfied with a hot meal.
The sight in front of them made Xia Houmao and his soldiers dumbfounded. The city gate of Wangyuan was closed and there was no one on the wall. If it weren't for the flag of Wei, they would have thought it was an abandoned city.
Xia Houmao's face was filled with anger, and he said coldly: "Thank you behind closed doors? What does Zhao Yu mean by this? Does Wang Yuan not welcome my consort?"
"Go and call the door later." Han Shao clasped his fists and reined in his horse and moved forward.
Just when Han Shao's horse was out of the crowd, there were sudden bursts of thunder from the north and south of Wangyuan County. Han Shao hurriedly reined in the reins and observed, only to see hundreds of horses on both sides rushing towards this direction.
Han Shao quickly turned around and returned to Xiahou Mao, "Consort, General Zhao should have come out to greet you, but I don't know why he didn't open the east gate..."
After the two hundred cavalrymen rushed out, they ran toward the east along both sides of the army like passers-by who did not know Xia Houmao. They neither announced their names nor had any intention of stopping. Their strange behavior made Xia Houmao and the soldiers consternation.
"This..." Han Shao was stunned.
"What is Zhao Yu doing?" Xia Houmao was also confused.
Just when everyone was confused, two teams of cavalry of the same size appeared again in the north and south directions of Wangyuan City. They were in exactly the same situation as the previous two teams, racing eastward along the same path.
"Asshole, do these cavalry think we don't exist?" Xiahou Mao was angry.
The chief clerk, Han Shao, vaguely noticed something was wrong, but he couldn't describe it. This was beyond his thinking.
Finally, when the third group of cavalry appeared, Xiahou's consort could no longer bear to be ignored, and he urgently sent two teams of scouts to intercept them.
Dozens of scouts from the two teams stood upright, blocking the road where the two teams of cavalry were about to pass, and asked sternly: "General Xiahou is here, where are you going?"
"I am Zhang Yide from Yan. Anyone who stands in my way will die."
Although the two teams of cavalry were far apart, they shouted Zhang Fei's name in unison. The generals leading the team were all tall and dark-skinned.
While shouting, the cavalry on horseback showed their spears and swords. They quickly killed the dozens of scouts without declaring a fight.
The unexpected turn of events shocked Xiahou Mao. With only two hundred cavalry, they dared to kill his scouts in front of an army of 30,000 people. Who gave them the courage?
"The consort is Zhang Fei's man..." Han Shao quickly reminded.
"Pounce on me..." Xia Houmao had just finished speaking when he suddenly remembered that he could not divide his troops. He hurriedly stopped the herald and added: "Wait, order the battalions to form formations and don't be tempted by the other side..."
The third group of cavalry obviously had no intention of charging into the formation. After killing Xia Houmao's scouts, they rushed eastward following the hoof prints of the front horses.
Then, the fourth batch, the fifth batch, the tenth batch...
As each group of people passed by, they shouted loudly: "I am Zhang Yide from Yan, anyone who stands in my way will die..."
Each of their teams may have a hundred, or fifty or sixty people. Their purpose is clear and their positioning is clear. They do not charge into the formation, but only advance. If they encounter obstacles, they will kill them if they can. If they cannot kill, they will use their mobility to detour. Xiahou's strange tactics Confused.
After Zhang Fei's cavalry fought unannounced, Xiahou Mao was escorted from the front to the center by his own soldiers to avoid being injured at the front of the formation.
The terrain around Wangyuan City is open. The 30,000-strong army originally lined up in a long queue of five or six miles, but now it is compressed into a two-mile radius. On both sides of the team, there are constant messengers galloping on horseback, and there are also cavalry squads that have been broken into pieces. Passing by like a marquee.
Xia Houmao did not order an attack. The Wei soldiers held their breath and concentrated. They could only hear the constant sound of horse hooves, the smoke and dust splashed on both sides were floated by the wind, the air was full of the smell of earth, and occasionally there were the shouts of "Zhang Fei".
"What does Zhang Fei want to do? Is he planning to attack from both front and back by taking a detour behind my army?" Xia Houmao frowned.
Han Shao shook his head and guessed: "We are close to ten times Zhang Fei's strength. His attempt to double-team us is like ants gnawing at an elephant. Maybe they are scattered like this because they want to escape?"
